Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: GUEST,Pee-i-rate
Date: 19 Jul 14 - 01:13 AM

Album ... is   

BBB    L    OO    OO    DDD Y   Y
B B   L    O O O O   D D Y   Y
BBB    L    O O O O   D D YYY
B B   L    0 O O O   D D   Y
BBB    LLLL OO    OO    DDD    Y    brilliant !!!


Criticism   on this thread is out of order.
Inspired interpretation of sea-faring songs.

it's one of the few albums in 10 years that's exposed the population at large to nautical sea-songs and such.


ye moaners
   really ... stick your woolly   jumpers up yer jaxy !
   gee folks what a bunch of 'stick in the muds' on this thread.

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 29 Jan 10 - 10:15 PM

Rogue's Gallery was performed in Sydney a few days ago as part of the Sydney Festival The first Festival took place in 1977 and it has since grown to become one of Australia's largest annual cultural celebrations with an international reputation for modern, popular and intelligent programming. In many ways it is probably still best understood as a celebration of Sydney and its style and energy reflect the confidence, diversity and vigour of one of the world's most beautiful cities.

They Sydney production of "Rogues Gallery" was not a success - review on Australian Broadcasting Corp site - check out the comments

review by Music Reviewer in Sydney Morning Herald tho last par of this review is worth repeating

so here it is - The problem with a concert like this is that serious folk musicians spend their lives trying to make traditional songs relevant to contemporary audiences. Non-folk musicians who don't understand the complexities involved simply think that quirky and eccentric is enough. It isn't. It sounds awful.

sandra

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: GUEST,Sapper still waiting to start from Polmadie
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 03:12 PM

Thanks for that Liz, I had gather as much!

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: GUEST,Wayne
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 12:31 PM

I thought it was fab! Ho hum.

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: GUEST,LTS pretending to work
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 03:46 AM

No Sapper, it's nothing to do with Mick Peat's group. It's a CD of allegedly 'sea songs' released a couple of years ago... read further up the thread and you'll see that Mick Peat would be relieved not to be associated.

LTS

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: GUEST,Sapper on Ultrasonics; Edinburgh-Glasgow
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 11:02 PM

One assumes that this is nothing to do with Mick Peat's group of the same name!

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: GUEST,LTS pretending to work
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 02:54 AM

Best Coaster award!!

You owe the British Government a new keyboard for that!

LTS

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: Greg B
Date: 26 Feb 08 - 11:32 PM

>The album was nominated in the "Legacy Recording" category for an award
>from the Folk Alliance.

I didn't know they had a "best coaster" category...

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 26 Feb 08 - 11:11 PM

The album was nominated in the "Legacy Recording" category for an award from the Folk Alliance. Fortunately, Woody Guthrie won, instead.

Mysteriously (or maybe not?), the awards are listed nowhere (that I can find) on the Folk Alliance web site, but there's a listing here.

(Cross ref. to the Mudcat thread)

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: Greg B
Date: 26 Feb 08 - 08:42 PM

>I just had a listen to this.

Sort of what they say about watching train wrecks...

...just when you think it can't be any more awful, they kick it down
a notch.

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: Artful Codger
Date: 26 Feb 08 - 02:59 PM

Maybe they'll tour celebrity drunk tanks this time, for reinterpretations of Bing Crosby hits. (Gad, I shouldn't say that aloud--they'll make it the next "reality" show.)

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: GUEST,yayaya
Date: 26 Feb 08 - 06:17 AM

Brill.

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 25 Feb 08 - 11:47 PM

I guess the next in the series will be Alvin and the Chipmunks singing Chain Gang songs.

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: GUEST,Volgadon
Date: 25 Feb 08 - 10:10 AM

I just had a listen to this. Very disappointed. Before anyone jumps to conclusions, I wasn't expecting this to be a trad album, or a reflection of pirate or sailor songs. No, I was expecting an album of songs relating to the sea being given a fresh, or just fun, treatment. It's just not a very good album, by any standard, or any genre.


Disc one:

"Cape Cod Girls," Baby Gramps - didn't work for me one bit.
"Mingulay Boat Song," Richard Thompson - a hoary old chestnut, but props to Richard Thompson for his performance.
"My Son John," John C. Reilly - ok-ish.
"Fire Down Below," Nick Cave - Well, it sucked. No surprise here.
"Turkish Revelry," Loudon Wainwright III - alright, nothing brilliant.
"Bully In The Alley," Three Pruned Men - sounds like a parody of something.
"The Cruel Ship's Captain," Bryan Ferry - just alright.
"Dead Horse," Robin Holcomb - nothing to write home about.
"High Barbary," Joseph Arthur - nearly worked, but fell on it's face.
"Dan Dan," David Thomas - simply put, it sucked.
"Blood Red Roses," Sting - very fun!
"Sally Brown," Teddy Thompson - listenable.
"Lowlands Away," Rufus Wainwright & Kate McGarrigle - I enjoy their duets and this didn't disappoint.
"Baltimore Whores," Gavin Friday - eh, ???
"Rolling Sea," Eliza Carthy - loved this one and don't mind the backup much.
"The Mermaid," Martin Carthy & the UK Group - a decent performance.
"Haul On The Bowline," Bob Neuwirth - not bad at all.
"Dying Sailor to His Shipmates," Bono - disapointing.
"Bonnie Portmore," Lucinda Williams - decent.
"Shenandoah," Richard Greene & Jack Sh*t - a nice instrumental, but I wish it had vocals.
"The Cry Of Man," Mary Margaret O'Hara - dull and dreary.

Disc two:

"Boney Was a Warrior," Jack Sh*t - not sure if I like this one or not.
"Good Ship Venus," Loudon Wainwright III - Maybe I'm being prudish, but simply unlistenable.
"Long Time Ago," White Magic - feels like a long time whenver you listen.
"Pinery Boy," Nick Cave - This one sucked, but I wasn't expecting much from Nick Cave.
"Lowlands Low," Bryan Ferry with Antony - it's ok.
"One Spring Morning," Akron - decent.
"Hog Eye Man," Martin Carthy & family - fun.
"The Fiddler/A Drop of Nelson's Blood," Ricky Jay & Richard Greene - was alright until he opened his mouth.
"Caroline and Her Young Sailor Bold," Andrea Corr - decent enough.
"Fathom The Bowl," John C. Reilly - nah.
"Drunken Sailor," David Thomas - the lousiest track of the whole album. Excruciating. Sounds like somebody was recording an utter souse from the far end of the street.
"Farewell Nancy," Ed Harcourt - verdict's still out.
"Hanging Johnny," Stan Ridgway - not bad.
"Old Man of The Sea," Baby Gramps - like the other Baby Gramps tracks, it sucked.
"Greenland Whale Fisheries," Van Dyke Parks - listenable.
"Shallow Brown," Sting - not bad.
"The Grey Funnel Line," Jolie Holland - really didn't work for me.
"A Drop of Nelson's Blood," Jarvis Cocker - nothing special.
"Leave Her Johnny," Lou Reed - ugh.
"Little Boy Billy," Ralph Steadman - feels as if Peter Sellers ought to have been singing.

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 03 Aug 07 - 02:57 AM

You're right - there were tracks on the 'Oh Brother' CD that only appeared as mini-snippets or faintly in the background, very few of the featured songs were whole and complete in the film and despite his aunty being Rosemary, George Clooney can't sing for toffee. But the thing is, they were all in context with the style of the film and each other.

I discovered yesterday that I can indeed purchase a version of 'Yo-ho, yo-ho, a pirate's life for me'. It's on a Disney CD of Villains songs - other titles include 'Cruella DeVil', 'We are Siamese' and 'Trusst in me'. Somehow, I think I can live without this particular CD, unless it appears in the £2 bin.

LTS

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 Aug 07 - 04:56 PM

Liz-

Just another footnote on the "Oh, Brother, How Art Thou" CD. Unless my memory is failing me, and I wouldn't be surprised if it were, I believe that there were tracks on the CD that were not in the movie, and even some different singers leading the songs.

Both the songs on the soundtrack and the CD were well done. Any few, if any, well-known singers or stars were involved.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 01 Aug 07 - 05:46 PM

In Mark Twain's "A Tramp Abroad", he recalls complaining to a maitre d' about the dreadful coffee he had been served. The response, after tasting the brew, was," It is very bad coffee. But it's rather good tea".

I guess it depends on what you think Rogues Gallery is trying to be.

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: Crystal
Date: 01 Aug 07 - 11:20 AM

I enjoyed this CD when I got it, OK a few tracks I tend to skip because they don't do it for me, but heck even my favourite albums have tracks like that.
I am perfecting the art of singing the "good ship venus" with a straight face and innocent expression! It is not going well...

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 01 Aug 07 - 09:36 AM

I believe Johnny played guitar.

LTS

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 01 Aug 07 - 09:12 AM

OK - Second listen through. I have flagged the tracks that I would happily put on my MP3 for repeating lots and why. Remember this is NOT an album of traditional music and I am a big fan of the folk rock genre. And of daft songs...;-)

Richard Thompson - Mingulay Boat Song. Good solid folk rock

Three Pruned Men - Bully in the Alley. The switch into 'dance tune' is inspired.

Robin Holcomb - Dead Horse. She sounds quite like Nancy Griffiths -
The 'minor' switch gives it an almost Jazz feel. But I like it anyway:-)

Bill Frisell - Spanish Ladies. Great guitar work. They should use it the next 'Jaws' movie.

Joseph Arthur - Coast of High Barbary. I thought heavy metal may sink - but it doesn't.

Sting - Blood red Roses. I like the Geordie accent!

Eliza Carthy - Rolling Sea. Very inovotive and Eliza doing what she does best.

Martin Carthy - The Mermaid. Just coz her dad can do no wrong.

Shenandoah - Jack Shit. If Mr Depp is in there what does he play? They are all good and surprisingly tight if they are a scratch band. I suspect there is more than meets the eye.

Bryan Ferry with Antony. I like Mr F and Antony spells his name the same as my middle one. I said before there was no Roxy Music - But I could see them doing this alongside Hard Rain. It's good as well.

Carthy Family - Hog-Eye man. Just love it for the previous Carthy reasons and more.

Stan Ridgway - Hanging Johnny. Sounds a bit like Jimmy Stewart. Could be a cowpoke shanty?

Van Dyke Parks. Greenland Whale Fisheries. It's the old rocker in me.

Jolie Holland - The Grey Funnel Line. First cowboys - Now Gospel! What a voice as well.

Jarvis Cocker - Drop of Nelsons Blood. Remember this is a Fictional shanty album - is this Pulp Fiction?

There are a very few I would not particulary listen to again but in the spirit of not wanting to cause offence I will not mention them. The Jury is still out on the rest.

Cheers

Dave

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 01 Aug 07 - 06:38 AM

Wonder when Volume 2 is coming out.. the sleeve notes say 2007...

(Thinks... could have done without the obscenities on 'Fire down below' by Nick Cave and the sleeve could have had a brighter picture).

LTS

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 01 Aug 07 - 06:27 AM

Well all this slagging off has done something... I've just got it down to listen to again whilst I tidy this room up...

If you read the sleeve notes, they give a great deal of background to the way the album was conceived and formed - many of the tracks seem to have been recorded after only a few hours to learn the basic tune, artists were picked on a 'were they in town and available' basis, rather than considered booking - it all adds up to an incredible mix of talents and styles. The tracks have been well researched and some little nuggets of information added which should please any traditionalist.

I'm still of the opinion that it shouldn't be listened to from start to finish as an album, but put on shuffle/random and each track taken individually - I'm really getting into the dark and raunchy version of 'High Barbary' by Joseph Arthur...

LTS

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 01 Aug 07 - 03:16 AM

'Oh Brother' did well because it was a film soundtrack, it was fairly well researched and the music fitted both the period the film was set in, and itself. It appeals to the traditional singer because of its content and context. It appeals to the more modern singer because it has good tunes on it that are mostly really easy to learn. It doesn't hurt having George Clooney on the label either.

'Rogues Gallery' is a standalone CD of music that someone thought vaguely piratical or nautical enough to include and so that younger audiences wouldn't be put off by 'traditional' styles, used artists that they might have heard of. It's not a soundtrack CD, nor does it include any of the music heard in the Johnny Depp films as far as I rememeber... but if it brings one more person over to the 'dark side' of shanty singing, then isn't that a good thing?

I have sung 'Just as the tide was flowing' in at least 3 different styles - trad, rock and formal 4 part choral harmony - I know which style I prefer, but I also know which style people paid money to hear, and neither styles were 'trad'.

LTS

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 08:32 PM

"Oh, Brother, How Art Thou" with actor George Clooney had excellent music in its sound track and on its stand alone CD.

However, this combination may be the exception that proves nothing (One generally needs a larger sample than one to prove anything).

Cheerily,
Charley noble

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: Marc Bernier
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 08:14 PM

I can't believe this. I was in this discussion at a festival a couple weeks ago, with someone I actually respect. I could not believe this person really took this project seriously on any level.

Oh folks we got CRAP
Right here in river CITY
With a capital C
And that rhymes with C
And that stands for Crap

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 06:50 PM

I'm probably in the minority, but I think that criticism--preferably informed criticism--is valuable. If I have some inkling of what the particular critic likes and doesn't like, it helps me decide what I'm going to spend my limited time and money listening to.

It's like theater or movie critics--once I learn how their tastes run, I can use their reviews as guideposts. F'rinstance, I used to be sure that I'd disagree with anything Pauline Kael said, and it saved me from seeing a lot of (no doubt worthwhile to some) movies.

I don't have to agree with the critic to make use of the criticism.

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 06:47 PM

Thank you... I has me moments of lucidity!

LTS

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: PoppaGator
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 05:54 PM

I remember reading the earlier thread about this CD. I haven't bothered to listen to the whole album, and certainly haven't purchased it, but I recall listening to one cut, perhaps on the radio or maybe on the internet. I found that single selection amusing and mildly entertianing, but I know others who found it mortally offensive.

Here's my take on the controversy, speaking as a shanty-singing dilletante:

Anyone expecting "real" authentic traditional-style shanty singing would be disapppointed.

Anyone hoping that Hollywood would actually be taking the opportunity to promote consciously-traditional hard-core shanty singing is bound to be doubly disappointed.

Anyone expecting a reverent, or even a respectful, attitude towards the time-honored traditions of maritime music is asking for serious disappointment.

This album is obviously intended to appeal to the masses who have no clue about shanty history, or even about today's serious shanty-singing subculture. It's a pop album with a much-less-than-serious nautical theme, exactly what should be expected from a project associated with the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie(s).

Some of us might be able to enjoy it for what it is, but only if we abandon any notion that it should be more than that, or better than that. I think that Liz the Squeak's appraisal, above, is pretty much on the mark.

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: SINSULL
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 05:30 PM

A young customer at the Portland Harbor Museum looked over our collection of CDs which includes Gordon Bok, Schooner Fare, Roll 'n Go and other local performers and then asked for Rogues Gallery. He was very impressed that I knew what he was talking about. If it brought him into the museum - good for Johnny Depp.

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 05:11 PM

New York Girls is great in the key of E flat with a Reggae rhythm. Should annoy most people;-) Just need to get the drum machine tempo right now...

:D

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 03:47 PM

Lighter-

Your remarks remind me of a West Indies song titled "Deep the Water, Shallow the Shore."

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: GUEST,Lighter at work
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 03:39 PM

I think Liz the Squeak's judgment is insightful and too true. To put it a little more strongly, the album isn't about real sea music, and it's only inadvertently about making good music. What it's about is Pirates of the Caribbean, teen P-of-C wannabes, teen Johnny Depp fans, the careers of the producers, and (in the same breath) making millions for Disney.

My theory: "Background noise" isn't music. If you don't want to give your full attention, it's pretty bad stuff.

Even posters who "liked" the album say it didn't grab them and make them listen all the way through like good music does.

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 03:08 PM

In the light of something Greg said down below the line I apologise if I came across as negative. If someone gives me a reasoned argument I will give one back. If someone hurls abuse however I reserve the right to shovel shit with the best of them:-)

In a nutshell (save everyone else buggering about) Greg pointed out that he felt that said album was an attempt by the Disney Corporation to "put out a collection of shit and pass it off as traditional". I can fully understand why lovers of Maritime music would get upset by this. It is much the same when I see the 'media' taking the piss out of folk music as country yokels and village idiots.

I must say though that I do disagree. Anyone who imagined that an album inspired by the Pirates of the Caribean would reflect anything other than Hollywood views would surely have been working on a very naive view. It reflects traditional music as much as 'Pirates' reflects life on a sailing ship. It's a bit of escapist nonsense. As such I find it fine and, very much like the film, quite entertaining.

In much the same way I would differentiate between 'Pirates of the Caribean and 'Master and Commander' but still feel I can enjoy them both. Just because one is not accurate does not make it crap. It just makes it fictional.

Everyone is more than entitled to their own opinions but, in the main, I believe that my opinions are no better or worse than anyone elses. And I still enjoyed the album.

Decided I am too knackered to go to the open mic. I am going to see if I can murder New York Girls on a Yamaha keyboard instead:-)

Cheers

Dave

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 12:36 PM

Ah well - I guess we will never agree on the album. I must say I did listen to it in the same manner as Liz suggested. The most enjoyable pieces, in my opinion, were Richard Thompsons and Stings! My sense of the bizarre and strange however make me seek out more Baby Gramps stuff:-)

Did I make a negative review of anyone, Greg? Surely not. I wasn't aware that I reviewed anyone or anything other than the album in question. Don't reviews comprise of things like 'This album is shit'? Where did I liken anyone to rather smelly waste products?

:D

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: Greg B
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 11:05 AM

"No probs, Greg. To be honest I couldn't realy give a shit what other people think of what I like. I just find it fascinating when people feel the need to piss on someone elses parade. Is it anything to do with the need to feel superior?"

I just find it fascinating when people feel the need to make a
negative review about the reviewer, rather than about the material
under review.

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: Leadfingers
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 10:59 AM

A book about Rum Liz ??

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 09:52 AM

The most disappointing thing about the album is I can't find the 'yo-ho, yo- ho, a pirates' life for me' on it.

LTS

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: GUEST,Lighter at work
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 09:42 AM

While it's true there's no accounting for taste or the lack of it, and we may disagree strongly in specific cases, it doesn't follow that all artistic productions are somehow equal.

The problem I find with all but three or four tracks on Rogues Gallery is that the performer's' style - including some of the changes of lyrics - is way out of line with what I think is the dominant feeling of the words and melody. In most cases the singers seem to be mostly interested in sounding as weird or outrageous as possible. In other words, proving how great and bizarre and innovative they are personally. And to hell with the song. (This has been a problem in rock and other genres for close to forty years.) In some cases, they don't seem to know what they're singing about. It's "just words." Instrumentally the album is a little better, but once again most of the sounds are unfocused and drearily uninvolving.

Some years ago a friend of mine attended an art lecture. Before showing the slides, the presenter reassured the audience by saying, "Now don't be turned off if you find yourself believing that some of these paintings are 'beautiful' or 'artistic.' That was just the style in those days."

What was *that* about? Rogues Gallery seems to have been made without much regard for artistry except to the extent that the performers can play their instruments without making any clangers.

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 09:30 AM

I quite liked bits of it, but judging by the layer of dust on it (it was a birthday present the year before last), it's been a while since I played it - which is an indication of how much I liked it. Having said that, it is on a shelf in plain view - wherease the total dross is usually in one of the drawers.

If you are a shanty singer, your toes will curl and your stomach heave to.

If you are a "traditional" singer, you'll find your way to the skip button before you hit the off button.

If you like music of any sort, it's a good one to put on shuffle with a couple of different genres.

If you like pirates, pirate movies, Hollywood pirates, Pirates of the Caribbean, haven't a clue about nautical things but have heard of Sting and Bono, then this is a great album.

I suspect that if you stop listening to it as an album of shanties and listen to it as a collection of songs about the sea, with that underlying theme of Hollywood pirates, then you'll find it's actually rather good.


Odd that this should turn up today... I've just bought a book about Captain Morgan...

LTS

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 08:55 AM

Dave-

Not all sea music groups are alike and generalizations run the risk of tripping off a minefield, especially here. Some sea music groups are hard-core living history groups, some are Celtic rock and roll, some are eclectic, and some defy categorization. Some members even know how to sail in tall-ships, and use sea shanties to help with the work. Others are classic armchair sailors but demonstrate an ability to sing. Some are incapable of either and should be given the "deep six."

The above anthology, Rogues Gallery, includes little that I would consider traditional style. What it does include is poorly rendered in whatever style it's presented in. It's a pity that the producers of this CD appeared to have been more savy in their marketing, in rounding up well-known names from the Pop Charts, than in selecting performers who were well known for their singing of such music. Such singers do exist and, in my opinion, should be encouraged.

If you find the "traditonal style" of singing sea music unappealing, you really shouldn't be reviewing it. If you are able to differentiate between what is really well-done and what is God-awful then you would be doing a service as a reviewer.

Much of what is included in the Rogues Gallery anthology is, in my opinion, God-awful.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: Barry Finn
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 07:35 AM

Calling that CD crap was being mighty generous of Greg, IMHO. more like shit.

Barry

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 05:22 AM

No probs, Greg. To be honest I couldn't realy give a shit what other people think of what I like. I just find it fascinating when people feel the need to piss on someone elses parade. Is it anything to do with the need to feel superior?

I must admit that, sticking to a sea song theme, I was forced into the unpleasent situation of reviewing an album by, I think, the Croyden Shanty Men. I found it particularly dull and boring but managed to find something positive to say, difficult as that was. I do sing the odd shanty or two myself but I think my idea of hell would be having to sit through a full session of landlocked wannabees trawling through hell and high water at a Maritime festival.

I know it is my own tastes that prevented me from enjoying it. Much the same way that I am told some jazz and opera is very good but, because I do not like it, I cannot realy enjoy it. I find it offends my ear:-( I would never dream of calling it crap though. Particularly if someone had alrady said they like it and I had not been invited to comment in the first place. As someone once told me many years ago. If you cannot say something good, say nothing.

But, each to his or her own. May you long remain happy in the full and certain knowledge that the music you like is only of the best quality. I am sure it makes you a better person:-)

Cheers

Dave

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: Greg B
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 02:39 PM

I believe, Dave, I've already provided such a list on another
thread, to someone who was interested in purchasing some quality
maritime music, and thinking of the subject collection of
needles buried in a stack of bovine-processed hay.

Listen, at some point crap is crap, and it's not a question
of 'tolerance' or 'taste.'

I fancy myself at least enough of an expert in the genre of
trad maritime music to know a silk purse from a pig's scrotum.

I did purchase the thing, having done so after listening to the
previews, driven by the same impetus which causes one to watch a
train wreck or the antics of certain female Hollywood celebrities.

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: Artful Codger
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 02:07 PM

Popularity has little to do with quality.

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 10:53 AM

Hehehehe.

Nice to see tollerance for other peoples tastes is still high on the priority list. Fancy giving us a list of what you like, Greg, to see if we can craft insults as fine as yours?

:D

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: Greg B
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 10:39 AM

It's a 'mixed' album in the sense of taking a very small
crap in a 10-gallon bucket of good stew gives one a
'mixed' product.

Well, maybe not...the 'crap to stew' ratio on 'Rogues
Gallery' is pretty high.

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 09:38 AM

Thanks Charley - Worth resuracting then:-)

Any JC's out there want to combine the threads or should we cross link so it can be found down multiple searches?

D.

Subject: RE: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 09:19 AM

Dave-

Sometimes such threads are hard to find by mere mortals. Here's a link to one about this CD with 61 posts: Click at Your Own Risk!

Arrgghhh!
Charley "Peghead" Noble

Subject: Rogues Gallery - Sea songs etc.
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 09:11 AM

I looked for an earlier thread and couldn't find one. Ajolopies if there is one.

Just got a copy of Rogues Gallery - Pirate Ballads, Sea songs and Chanteys. Inspired by a meeting between Johnny Depp and director Gore Verbinski when making 'Pirate of the Carribean'. Produced by Hal Wilner and including artists ranging as wide as Richard Thompson and Jarvis Cocker with Eliza Carthy (and her Dad!), Bono, Baby Gramps, Mr Depp himself as 'Jack Shit' and all sorts in between! Look it up to see the full list and save my poor little fingers:-)

It's a decidedly mixed album with lots going for it but, as anyone seeing the reviews will realise, it is not to all tastes to say the least. The 'purists' seem to hate it because it is not 'real' sea songs (whatever they are). It's full of, shall we say, colourful language (anyone aware of the words of the good ship Venus will get the idea:-) )and the more prudish see to jump up and down at that.

Anyway,I am quite enjoying it myself. As long as you accept that it is not a portrayal of sea songs as they 'should be'. Neither is it main stream artists portraying these songs in their style. There is not a bit of Roxy Music in 'Lowlands Low'nor does Andrea Corr bring any CeltPop into her portrayal of Caroline and her young sailor bold.

I would class it in the 'well worth a listen' bracket. If enough people do so we may even get some interesting innovations into folk clubs and shanty festivals the world over:-) It will certainly get lots of play in Polshaw Towers. Mind you, there are no kids wandering round there...

Cheers

Dave